Smallpox By Amber, Jacob, And Olivia

Smallpox is a serious and contagious disease that causes a rash on the skin.

Smallpox was once found throughout the world, causing illness and death wherever it occurred. It mainly affected children and young adults. Family members often infected each other.

There are two forms of smallpox: Variola major is a serious illness that can be life threatening in people who have not been vaccinated Variola minor is a milder infection that rarely causes death It usually takes days after a person has been infected for symptoms to appear

Symptoms Smallpox begins with the same symptoms that many acute diseases do; such as chills, fever, backache, and vomiting. This is indicative of a common cause and common way to deal with the cause. The body is a magnificent ecosystem and when it finds abnormal and extraneous substances anywhere within its domain, it creates a higher temperature, purposely, to overcome the foreign proteins, toxic substances, viruses, bacteria or other microorganisms.

cures There is no proven treatment for smallpox, but research to evaluate new antiviral agents is ongoing. Patients with smallpox can benefit from supportive therapy such as intravenous fluids, medicine to control fever or pain and antibiotics for any secondary bacterial infections that may occur. Vaccina immune globulin (VIG) can be used primarily to treat complications of smallpox vaccination. VIG could also be offered to persons exposed to smallpox as a prophylaxis. However, VIG must be given before their lesions began to develop, and it is most effective when given with smallpox vaccination.

cures If the smallpox vaccination is given within 1-4 days of exposure to the disease, it may prevent illness, or at least lessen the degree of illness associated with the disease. Treatment, once the disease symptoms have started, is limited. There is no agent that has been specifically made for treating smallpox. Sometimes antibiotics are given for secondary infections that may occur. Vaccinia immune globulin (antibodies against a disease similar to smallpox) may help shorten the disease.